SoFi to purchase Galileo for $1.2 billion to expand banking tech

SoFi to purchase Galileo for $1.2 billion to expand banking tech
The acquisition will help the online lender build up its technology for brokerage and investment services
APR 07, 2020

Social Finance Inc. agreed to pay $1.2 billion in cash and stock for Galileo Financial Technologies, a startup that creates applications for card issuers and payments platforms.

SoFi already uses Galileo for its cash-management product, and the acquisition will help the company build up its technology for brokerage and investment services, a company representative said Tuesday.

Galileo builds “bank in a box” technology that powers the checking-account services at digital banks including Chime Inc. and Monzo Bank Ltd. The Carson Group was one of the first wealth managers to offer clients digital banking services through the company in May.

Adding Galileo will give SoFi access to technology it didn’t previously own, while extending the reach of its products to other partners in the U.S. and abroad, according to a statement.

“We will partner to build on our companies’ strengths to drive even greater financial-technology innovation,” SoFi Chief Executive Officer Anthony Noto said in the statement.

Galileo’s existing partnerships will continue under the deal, and it will operate as an independent subsidiary of SoFi, according to the company.

The transaction is the latest consolidation in the fintech industry that’s included deals between PayPal Holdings Inc. and Honey Science Corp., Visa Inc. and Plaid Technologies Inc., and TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. and Charles Schwab Corp.

Latest News

Bipartisan bill aims to take down 401(k) charitable giving hurdle
Bipartisan bill aims to take down 401(k) charitable giving hurdle

The Charity Parity Act would eliminate a costly IRA rollover requirement that blocks direct charitable transfers from workplace retirement plans.

Trump drops $10 billion IRS lawsuit as $1.7B settlement fund takes shape
Trump drops $10 billion IRS lawsuit as $1.7B settlement fund takes shape

A last-minute court filing ends a case against the federal tax-collecting agency that had drawn unprecedented conflict-of-interest questions from Democratic critics.

You Can’t Spell Advisor without AI
You Can’t Spell Advisor without AI

Advisors discuss their use of AI now and how it will change going forward

DOJ's fraud sweep bags over $1B in convictions, guilty pleas and indictments in a single week
DOJ's fraud sweep bags over $1B in convictions, guilty pleas and indictments in a single week

Medicare scam, pandemic benefit theft, offshore tax evasion — federal prosecutors are casting a wide net.

Retirement without guaranteed income streams may mean near-total asset wipeout
Retirement without guaranteed income streams may mean near-total asset wipeout

Report finds that pension income acts as a financial lifeline for retirees facing late-life shocks and raises urgent questions about the DC-only future.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline